Saving a legacy, one elephant at a time | <strong>Elephant Nature Park</strong>

Saving a legacy, one elephant at a time | Elephant Nature Park | Thailand

Thailand - the land of endless golden beaches, aquamarine water, generous people, and of course, elephants. Now try to imagine Thailand again, but without its iconic elephants. This unimaginable scenario is fast becoming a reality. Only a century ago, over 100,000 elephants roamed Thailand - now there are only 5,000 left.

Thailand has traditionally used domesticated elephants as their main work-force animals for logging - even as military machines. In recent times, however, the 1989 logging ban has put most of these elephants out of work and into the streets as beggars. It's not unusual to spot a terrified baby elephant begging for change for its owner in the chaotic streets of Bangkok. The situation seems dire for Thailand's elephants, but there's still hope in the form of a dimunitive but feisty woman named Sangduen "Lek" Chailert.

This tiny woman has single-handedly rescued abused and unemployed elephants and brought them to her Elephant Nature Park, where they are rehabilitated and allowed to live out their lives peacefully. Located near the north-east Thailand city of Chiang-Mai, this sanctuary allows tourists to give a little TLC to the gentle giants, and to even volunteer their services for as long as they wish to stay.

After visiting this place, where you get to feed and bathe the elephants, you will never look at elephant rides the same way again. For herself, Lek has vowed to dedicate her life to saving these beautiful creatures, stating, "...I will work to help elephants until I die... I will never stop!" Certainly after a day of being at this must-see place, you will hold some of her passion within yourself forever.

More: Elephant Nature Park | via Go World Travel | Time Magazine Asia | Thai Focus | Toronto Star